Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK Lufthansa flight LH1753 from Athens to Munich was forced to return to the Greek airport last night (Monday, May 11, 2026) shortly after takeoff, following a warning alert received in the cockpit.
The crew of the Airbus A321 declared an emergency to gain priority for landing, and the plane landed safely and returned to the gate on its own. After landing, due to a pungent odor developing in the rear of the cabin, the crew decided to evacuate using emergency slides.
There were 177 passengers and 7 crew members on board the plane. Three passengers were slightly injured during the evacuation and received medical treatment.
Lufthansa said that the passengers on the flight received assistance from ground crews and were transferred to alternative flights while the plane underwent technical checks. The company expressed regret for the incident and stressed that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority.